Fall, McCloud, Hat, Etc...?

[BobVP]

Not having left the coast since the first week of March I think it is time to cautiously venture out for some trout fishing. I rarely see or talk to others while I am out there anyway so here I go....

Have there been any reports on the Fall, Hat, McCloud lately?

That is my usual "head to" triangle, but I am not set on that yet. I could also head to the NF Yuba and tributaries or the Pit or ??? My dance card is not yet filled. My best guess is I will head out there in two weeks or so.

Thanks for any recent reports and I hope you are all staying safe.

[tcorfey]

Go to the Kiene's fly shop fish reports

https://www.reports.kienesflyshop.com

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Around July 20 is getting a little late for some you mentioned.

NF Yuba and maybe the Truckee river?

Time for going a little higher elevation?

[BobVP]

Yeah, maybe a little late or 6 weeks too early!

Higher may be better.

Time to hit the maps.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

September use to be the Isonychia mayflies emergence on the Pit river.

September is the Half-pounder time on the lower Rogue and lower Klamath rivers.

September is usually good in Idaho, Montana and Colorado.

September can be dry fly Steelhead time in British Columbia.

[Jcolin]

I fished the McCloud this weekend, had it to myself on the fourth which was nice. Hooked a lot of small fish, nothing big. Water was plenty cold, stopped at the Upper Sac on way home and it was much warmer, great for swimming but not so much fishing, at least in the middle of the day.

I'd recommend hiking up somewhere high at least 9k ft if possible. The weekend before I hiked into one of my favorite lakes in the Hoover Wilderness and it was warm as a bathtub at 8,500 feet. Last July 4th it was ice cold and the fishing was fantastic, this year with less snow it was a total bust.

[TroutHunter10]

There are always fish to be had on the Pit if you're willing to tough out the wading and snakes.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

We recommend taking a high country horse/mule pack trip in Aug/Sept.

Red's Meadow Pack Station, Frontier Pack Station and Kennedy Meadows Pack Station are both a good operation.


https://www.redsmeadow.com/sierra-trips/

https://frontierpacktrain.com/

https://www.kennedymeadows.com/packtripoptions.html

______________________________

Kiene's Fly Shop usually has some good hosted group pack trips into the Sierras.

Andy, Joe and I have been on these wonderful trips.

https://www.kienesflyfishingtravel.com/frontier-pack-train

[Troutsource]

Was fortunate enough to fish Bollibokka over the weekend. The fish were much bigger than the previous two years (many in the 18"-19" range, and built like small chinooks), and easier to catch -- mainly on little yellow stonefly and big golden stonefly nymphs. I don't know how that correlates to the upper stretches.

[Bob Loblaw]

Just got back from a few days at Clearwater Lodge and the fishing was great. Fished Hat Creek on Friday and had the riffle to ourselves all day! which is a first. Had about a dozen fish in hand, up to 18 inches.

Fished the Fall on Saturday. It was HOT out there but the fish were plentiful. Had two broken rods before we had a fish in the boat. As I was unpacking an old Heddon bamboo the guide eye popped off, so that went back in the tube, and then my daughter hooked into a BIG fish but the line wrapped around the tip and PING it broke off. My trusty old TFO BVK died a good death. Luckily we had reserves and had a good day with about 15 fish up to 18 inches.....no huge fish, but they are FAT and pull like diesel trucks.

Sunday fished Baum Lake for an hour and had a couple of very small fish where Crystal Lake dumps in.

I still think that corner of CA is the best trout fishing in the lower 48. Between the Pit, McCloud, Hat Creek and the Fall, it has it all.

[BobVP]

Thanks Bob, that gives me hope and I agree about the area with the added western edge of the McCloud and the Upper Sacramento it is my "go to" world away from the coast....the troutless coast.

With the new surge in viral crap I am now aiming for a fall trip to the area. Even though when I travel to fish I interact with very few people it just seems best to not test fate.

[Bob Loblaw]

Lassen, Modoc, Shasta area has the lowest infection rates in the State. I don't think Modoc has had a reported infection yet, so you'll be safe....just make sure you don't bring it with you!

[Rossflyguy]

I’ll be hitting the McCloud for 5 days in two weeks. We bought a travel camper in March and broke it in two weeks ago at PC resort (I wouldn’t recommend it). Can’t wait to be up around McCloud and all those rivers.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

One reason the McCloud river might be good mid-Summer is the fact that the water is very cold.

The Upper Sac is usually slow July through September unless they have a huge snow pack.

_____________________________

"Much of the McCloud’s flow comes from springs fed by glaciers and snow on Mt. Shasta. "

https://www.calwild.org/portfolio/fact-sheet-mccloud-river/

[BobVP]

Lassen, Modoc, Shasta area has the lowest infection rates in the State. I don't think Modoc has had a reported infection yet, so you'll be safe....just make sure you don't bring it with you!

And that is exactly the reason I am not traveling yet!
I have not even been "over the hill" to Ukiah or Sonoma since March, but from the looks of the crowds on the coast over the pat 45 days I would guess others do not feel the same.

[Bob Loblaw]

And that is exactly the reason I am not traveling yet!
I have not even been "over the hill" to Ukiah or Sonoma since March, but from the looks of the crowds on the coast over the pat 45 days I would guess others do not feel the same.

I NEEDED to go fishing BAD and had the trip booked long before COVID so I got tested before leaving and was negative, so felt OK about going.

[Rossflyguy]

And that is exactly the reason I am not traveling yet!
I have not even been "over the hill" to Ukiah or Sonoma since March, but from the looks of the crowds on the coast over the pat 45 days I would guess others do not feel the same.

If you research this virus it’s been proven that it immediately dies in UV light and temps 70 degrees and up. I believe this is on the CDC website. The best thing you can do is be outside. Most people contract it from being indoors.

[Fishtopher]

If you research this virus it’s been proven that it immediately dies in UV light and temps 70 degrees and up. I believe this is on the CDC website. The best thing you can do is be outside. Most people contract it from being indoors.

This isn't entirely correct. COVID does die when exposed to high intensity UV, much higher than typical sunlight, which is why it is used to sterilize things. Multiple factors affect COVID longevity outdoors including sunlight intensity, humidity, and length of exposure. The 70 degree number is correct, but that value is for degrees Celsius, not Fahrenheit. Pretty big distinction. That being said, fishing and camping are about as low-risk as you can get.

[Rossflyguy]

This isn't entirely correct. COVID does die when exposed to high intensity UV, much higher than typical sunlight, which is why it is used to sterilize things. Multiple factors affect COVID longevity outdoors including sunlight intensity, humidity, and length of exposure. The 70 degree number is correct, but that value is for degrees Celsius, not Fahrenheit. Pretty big distinction. That being said, fishing and camping are about as low-risk as you can get.


Yup missed the Celsius. My fault. Still, the death rate is way lower than projected unless your really unhealthy. I say live you’re life and be outdoors which has shown to be low risk. Makes me wonder why they’d close outdoor areas to keep us more contained to spread the disease.